Field Transmitter: Pressure Sensor

Field Transmitter: Pressure Sensor Solutions from Texas Instruments.

Design Considerations
Selection and Solution Guides
Tools and Software

Product Bulletin & White Papers
News Releases & Authored Articles
Similar End-Equipment Solutions

Application Notes
Reference Designs
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Design Considerations

Pressure sensors convert a physical value - weight, tire pressure, level, force, and flow-into a differential signal in the mV/V range and are referred to as metal thick-film, ceramic or piezo-resistive. The majority of designers use the cost-effective piezo-sensors (25mbar - 25bar) that are nonlinear, temperature dependent and have large offset and offset drift, and require attention for electronic calibration and compensation.

Sensor Signal Conditioning - performs all necessary functions to calibrate, compensate for temperature variance, scale, and linearize the sensor signal.

Analog/Digital Processing - there are two ways to convert and linearize the sensor signal. The analog technique results in an analog solution and provides an analog output. This technique is inexpensive and fast, but limited to a maximum of 11- to 16-bit resolution. Digital is more precise, up to 24 bits, and provides a digital output at moderate speed.

There are highly integrated solution, like the PGA309, tailored for bridge pressure sensors comprising precision, low-drift programmable gain instrumentation amplifiers using auto-zero techniques and include programmable fault monitors and over/under scale limiters. The PGA309 also offers a digital temperature compensation circuit. Other recommended lowest-noise amplifier and instrumentation amplifier for pressure sensor conditioning include the OPAx227, OPAx132, INA118 and INA122, INA326.

Microcontrollers with integrated ADCs - TI's MSP430 and MSC12xx integrated microcontroller solutions family allow the definition of filters and thresholds of critical pressure levels. These are often transmitted back to a central station through the digital interface of RS-485 or CAN for recording and operator review.

Additionally, the ADS125x are precision, wide dynamic range, delta-sigma, Analog-to-Digital (A/D) converters with 18 to 24-bit resolution operating from a single +5V supply. The delta-sigma architecture supports wide dynamic range and guarantees no missing codes. They are designed for high-resolution measurement applications in cardiac diagnostics, smart transmitters, industrial process control, weigh scales.

Clocks - The CDCE9xx clock families are modular PLL-based low cost, high-performance, programmable clock synthesizers, multipliers and dividers. They generate up to 9 output clocks from a single input frequency. Each output can be programmed in-system for any clock frequency up to 230 MHz, using independent configurable PLLs.

Interface / Connectivity

Traditional analog (4 - 20mA) and RS-232/RS-485 interfaces remain popular choices for industrial control and sensor applications. Looking forward, designers are integrating mainstream wired interfaces such as Ethernet, USB, and CAN, into their products. In addition, wireless options such as ZigBee, Bluetooth, and other Low Power Wireless protocols are becoming more prevalent. TI is committed to provide solutions for both traditional and emerging industrial interfaces. For example, TI recently introduced the ISO1050, the world's first isolated CAN transceiver.

Power - LDOs are good for low noise power for amplifiers and data converters because they provide low-ripple power rails leading to better signal fidelity. The REF31xx family are precision, low power, low dropout, series voltage references available in tiny SOT23-3 package. The REF31xx does not require a load capacitor, but is stable with any capacitive load and can sink/source up to 10mA of output current.

Application Notes (13)

Title	Abstract	Type	Size (KB)	Date
A Glossary of Analog-to-Digital Specifications and Performance Characteristics (Rev. B)		PDF	425 KB	09 Oct 2011
EEPROM Emulation With the TMS320F28xxx DSCs	Read Abstract	HTM	9 KB	21 Sep 2009
DN013 -- Programming output powers on CC1101 (Rev. A)	Read Abstract	HTM	8 KB	02 Jan 2008
Efficient MSP430 Code Synthesis for an FIR Filter	Read Abstract	HTM	8 KB	29 Mar 2007
Using the XTR115 with the PGA309 to Generate 4mA to 20mA Output (Rev. B)	Read Abstract	HTM	8 KB	20 Apr 2006
PGA309 Quick Start System Reference Guide (Rev. C)	Read Abstract	HTM	8 KB	13 Jan 2006
PGA309 Noise Filtering (Rev. A)	Read Abstract	HTM	8 KB	28 Nov 2005
Getting the most out of your instrumentation amplifier design		PDF	177 KB	10 Oct 2005
Practical Technique for Minimizing the Number of Measurements in Sensor Signal	Read Abstract	HTM	9 KB	28 Jun 2005
Interfacing the ADS1251/52 to the MSP430	Read Abstract	HTM	8 KB	08 Mar 2005
MSP430F42x Single-Chip Weight Scale	Read Abstract	HTM	8 KB	15 Nov 2004
Shelf-Life Evaluation of Lead-Free Component Finishes		PDF	1.28 MB	24 May 2004
MSP430 Family Mixed-Signal Microcontroller Application Reports	Read Abstract	HTM	8 KB	21 Jan 2000

Reference Designs

Description	Part #	Company
CC1100EM 315-433MHz Reference Design	CC1100EM433_REFDES	Texas Instruments
CC1101EM 868 and 915MHz Reference Design	CC1101EM868-915_REFDES	Texas Instruments
CC1150EM 315-433MHz Reference Design	CC1150EM433_REFDES	Texas Instruments
CC1150EM 868-915Mhz Reference Design	CC1150EM868_REFDES	Texas Instruments
CC2500 Reference Design (62 mil layer spacing)	CC2500_REFDES_062	Texas Instruments
CC2500EM Reference Design	CC2500EM_REFDES	Texas Instruments

Selection and Solution Guides

Selection Guides (5)

Title	Type	Size (KB)	Date
Power Management Solutions for Ultra-Low-Power 16-Bit MSP430 MCUs (Rev. D)	PDF	302 KB	28 Mar 2012
Power Management Guide 2012 (Rev. L)	PDF	12.79 MB	09 Feb 2012
Point-of-Load (POL) Power Solutions for Industrial Designs (Rev. A)	PDF	246 KB	03 May 2011
Управление питанием для ULP 16-bit MSP430 MCUs (Rev. A)	PDF	916 KB	22 Mar 2011
MSP430 MCUs, Passive RF and Low-Power RF Solutions Guide (Rev. F)	PDF	175 KB	11 Jun 2010

Solution Guides (2)

Title	Abstract	Type	Size (KB)	Date	Views
TI Industrial Automation Solutions for Industrial Communication (Rev. A)		PDF	219 KB	11 May 2011	0
Industrial Process Measurement and Control Trifold		PDF	827 KB	31 Mar 2008	0

Tools and Software

Name	Part #	Company	Software/Tool Type
CC1101 Development Kit 868-915MHz	CC1101DK868-915	Texas Instruments	Development Boards/EVMs
CC2520 Evaluation Module Kit	CC2520EMK	Texas Instruments	Development Boards/EVMs
Code Composer Studio (CCStudio) Integrated Development Environment (IDE) v5	CCSTUDIO	Texas Instruments	Code Composer Studio(TM) IDE
MSP430 USB Stick Development Tool	EZ430-F2013	Texas Instruments	Development Boards/EVMs

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